Dadan Hindayana Removed, BGN Urged to Focus on National Free Nutritious Meal Targets
The Deputy Chairman of Commission IX of the House of Representatives (DPR RI), Yahya Zaini, has requested that the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) prioritise the improvement of the Free Nutritious Meal (MBG) programme within the country, rather than expanding its scope to include Indonesian students studying in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. According to Zaini, under the leadership of the former Head of BGN, Dadan Hindayana, the target for beneficiaries within Indonesia has not yet been fully achieved.
Zaini assessed that the discourse presented by the former head of BGN was irrelevant to the primary objectives of the MBG programme, which focuses on improving nutrition for school children, pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers in Indonesia.
“Firstly, I regret the discourse regarding providing MBG to Indonesian children studying in Saudi Arabia. This discourse is highly irrelevant to the main goal of the MBq programme, which is to increase nutritional intake for school children domestically, as well as pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers, and toddlers,” Zaini stated on Tuesday.
He requested that the new Head of BGN focus more on improving the quality of MBG implementation, particularly by tightening supervision of the National Nutrition Fulfilment Service Units (SPPG). Zaini highlighted ongoing cases of food poisoning occurring during the programme’s execution.
“Secondly, I remind the Head of BGN to focus on increasing the quality of MBG by enhancing strict supervision of the SPPG, as there are still many cases of food poisoning occurring,” he said.
Furthermore, Zaini revealed that several SPPG units have yet to meet basic operational standards, such as lacking Sanitation Hygiene Feasibility Certificates (SLHS) or Wastewater Treatment Plants (IPAL). He also emphasised that the target for MBG beneficiaries within the country remains far from the government’s set goals. Therefore, he urged the BGN not to divert attention to issues deemed non-urgent.
“I ask the Head of BGN to pursue the target of 82 million beneficiaries by 2026. Currently, there are only about 60 million beneficiaries. Do not create unnecessary and irrelevant discourse,” he asserted.
Zaini questioned the reasoning behind the BGN focusing on Indonesian children in Saudi Arabia when the number of Indonesian students in other countries is significantly larger.
In a related development, Deputy Speaker of the House, Sufmi Dasco Ahmad, assessed that the appointment of Nanik S. Deyang as the Head of the National Nutrition Agency to replace Dadan Hindayana was an appropriate choice. Dasco noted that the President’s decision demonstrates that the government is responsive to feedback from the legislature, the public, and the programme’s beneficiaries.